Let Me See

Let Me See

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“Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.” But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭24‬-‭28‬, NIV‬‬.

We humans tend to ask a lot of God. Sometimes we forget that our requests are under His grace. We have the permission to ask God for things, because He is a loving Father. However, we must not always expect a “Yes.” Especially after He has already said, “No.”

Moses’ conversation with God at the end of the Israelite’s 40-year journey in the wilderness, is such a conversation. God was preparing to release the Israelites into the promised land, and of course the Israelites were grumbling due to hunger and thirst. It was a record set on repeat or a tape on a loop. And Moses was tired of it. So, in a bad mood, his temper and frustration got the best of him, and Moses disobeyed God when he struck the rock twice, Numbers 20. God was planning on bringing water out of the rock again (Exodus 17:6), instead of striking the rock, like before, Moses was to speak to the rock. Only Moses didn’t speak to the rock, he struck it twice and yelled at the people of God.

God did not get the glory He deserved. It actually could have been a beautiful reminder of how God had taken care of the Israelites for those forty years. From rock to rock.

As a result, Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.

Does this seem too harsh? Then maybe we aren’t fully aware of God and His Word. God actually has the final say—our job is to accept it, as His servants.

But then as we read on, Moses asked if he could see it, and God told Moses he could at least “see it,” just not enter it. God’s mercy. Moses was known as a very humble servant as found in Numbers 12:3.

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth,” Numbers 12:3.

So, his disobedience was not his normal state of mind. God’s graciousness towards Moses was kind, because God loved Moses. As He loves all His children. But a no, is still a no.

Soon after Moses died, leaving the next chapter to Joshua.

How are we doing today? Are we striking out at God or others, then upset because we are not getting our way? When God says “No,” do we accept it? Or do we try to get it another way, in our own strength?

Father,

We are stubborn people. I have mocked the Israelites due to their stories of complaints, and grumbling. But that’s how I live as well. I don’t get my way and I complain. Things don’t work out as I have planned—I grumble.

I need Your perspective on how to live my day-to-day life.

I need help accepting Your “No’s,” and move on serving You regardless of what I want.

I have signed up and surrendered my rights to You. That’s what children of God do. But I must confess, sometimes I do think about my own wants, and desires over building up Your kingdom.

Please forgive me. Your way is always good and right and pleasing. You are always planning for a glorious future filled with hope for all of us, not just me. My way is just selfish.

I forget that sometimes Your “No” to me is a “Yes” for someone else, and I am not to be envious. But realize it builds up a better kingdom, for Your glory.

Thank You for being a God who sees all, knows all and loves all.

I surrender to Your authority.

Amen.